BERMUDA'S David Thomas returns from Davis Cup duty in El Salvador too late to sign up for the island's annual international junior tournament ? but organisers have given him special permission to take part.

Thomas is rated the island's best hope in the 18-and-under boys singles in the Bank of Bermuda Foundation ITF Junior Tournament, which gets under way with qualifying matches tomorrow.

Although the 17-year-old does not arrive back in Bermuda from competing for the men's tennis team in the Americas Group IV until Tuesday afternoon, he has been granted permission to compete in the event, which carries world junior ranking points.

"David will be allowed to play," tournament director Allan Simmons said. "There is something called a special exemption that can be given to players who are delayed because they are playing another ITF (International Tennis Federation) event.

"He won't be here for the regular sign-up for the main draw which is on Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. In fact, he doesn't get back until 2 p.m. on Tuesday.

"We hoped he would be able to get back on Monday, but he is flying via Atlanta and will have to overnight there before he can fly back to Bermuda."

Thomas, a graduate of Saltus Grammar School, is making his Davis Cup debut as part of a young team which also features Romar Douglas, Tony Thompson and Jovan Whitter. He has reached number three in the island's adult rankings and in the last domestic tournament, last month's BLTA Open, he reached the final, where he went down to island number one Andy Bray.

Eighteen countries will be represented by more than 120 juniors in the fourth annual Bank of Bermuda Foundation ITF Junior Tournament, which opens with qualifying matches tomorrow at 10 a.m.

The tournament has strengthened in stature over its first three years and has proved more popular than ever with the players this time.

As the tournament's assistant director David Lambert pointed out, there will be 32 boys competing in the qualifying event for the 18-and-under singles. They will be vying for just four slots in the main draw of 32.

There is also a full draw of 32 in the girls 18-and-under singles, as well as a draw of 16 in both the girls and boys 14-and-under singles. There will also be boys and girls doubles events, for which players can register on Monday.

"Numbers have grown and we are now an established fixture on the summer ITF (International Tennis Federation) junior circuit," Lambert said.

"It's all about world ranking points. That is the appeal for the young players who are coming here.

"The event ends on June 24 and a large percentage of the juniors taking part will travel to the Bahamas to take part in the next event on the circuit in the Bahamas, which starts on June 26.

"That is one of the things that our juniors have learned from this tournament, that if you want to reach the highest level, you have to travel to compete in tournaments against the best."

The top-ranked boy in the tournament is 17-year-old Corey Davis, from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, who is 554th in the world, according to the latest ITF junior rankings. And the top girl is Guatemala's Analy Guzman, another 17-year-old, who is 306th in the world.

Bermuda's top female hope will be 17-year-old Ashley Brooks, who currently tops the island's adult rankings and is favourite to clinch the Island Construction Open title on tomorrow's finals day at Pomander Gate.

Other local youngsters taking part include Caitlin Gordon, Morgan Lightbourne, Jacqueline Lambert, Na'im Azhar and Johnny Holland.

"What our players have learned from playing against top overseas youngsters is how to prepare, how to focus and how to warm up and what you have to do to become a top player," Lambert said.

"We want to see more and more of our players travelling to play on the circuit. This year, there should be six to eight juniors doing that.

"You see them toughen when they play on the circuit. They tend to focus better and manage their energy better when they are playing in tough tournaments week after week.

"That is the one of the greatest benefits this tournament has brought our juniors."

Most of the visiting players will stay in the Bermuda Regiment barracks at Warwick Camp. A bus service will be provided by the Transport Ministry to ferry the players from their accommodation to the courts.

"We are very grateful for the support of our main sponsors, the Bank of Bermuda Foundation, as well as to the Government and the Regiment for their backing," Lambert said.

Many other sponsors also provided products for the tournament. If organisers had to pay for everything, the total cost would come to around $100,000, Lambert estimated.

Sports Minister Dale Butler will speak at a welcoming ceremony at the Tennis Stadium on Sunday at 4 p.m. and the ITF's Mickey Williams will also speak about the importance of the tournament and the junior circuit.